Ruby's world spun. The night lit by street lights and neon signs swirled into a shifting kaleidoscope of making sure her feet found pavement and breathing evenly so the contents of her stomach didn't find the pavement as well. She hadn't gotten this fucked up in a long time, like two weeks at least.
Thankfully, Meg's building was only a few blocks ahead. Ruby kept her feet moving. Christ, she needed to pee bad. She stumbled across the crosswalk of an intersection, focusing more attention on her feet and balance.
Across the street, she couldn't take it anymore. She needed to pee or puke or both. She spotted a Subway restaurant with its lights still on.
Ruby ran up and ripped the door open. She tugged on the bottom of her skirt to make sure she was being at least a little decent. "You guys open?" she asked. She was pretty sure she hadn't slurred that.
The guy behind the register said, "We're 24 hour."
"Great," she said, relieved. She threw herself towards the counter. "You got a bathroom in here?"
The guy nodded. "Gotta buy something to use it," he said.
Ruby rolled her eyes, the motion making her stomach churn. Jesus, she was a hot mess tonight. She probably came across like a drunk slut. The fact that it was nearly 3 a.m. didn't help her case.
Her self-consciousness dissolved into laughter. She giggled just a little too long before saying, "I'll take a cookie." She pointed to one, and the cashier dutifully grabbed it for her. She hastily pulled cash out of her bra as the cashier held a key out to her. She thanked him, taking the key and the cookie, and sprinted into the bathroom.
G-string down and skirt hiked up, urination had never been so glorious. The relief nearly had her in tears. She released a deep, cranberry vodka flavored breath and sighed. She took a bite of the double chocolate cookie. The morsel was so delicious it was sinful. And it was just a fast food cookie. If nothing else had clued her in, that solidified for Ruby that she was really and truly drunk. She had to get to Meg's. Her head was already starting to feel heavy. A full hangover wasn't far behind. She needed either another drink or sleep pronto.
Ruby pulled up her panties and tights, straightened her black leather skirt, adjusted her silky red tank top, and left the Subway pretending her dignity was still intact. As she got back out on the street, a loud belch ripped from her throat. Who needed dignity anyways?
Ruby reached Meg's building and felt joy bubble up in her chest. She finally made it. Ruby walked over to the fire escape. The pressure behind her eyes started to throb, making the bottom of the fire escape look much farther away than it really was. Maybe she should use the buzzer for a change. What was Meg's apartment number again? Something on the third floor. Shit. She kicked off her heels and threw them up on the fire escape with a loud metallic clang. She yawned, the night catching up with her.
Ruby closed the lid to Meg's dumpster and climbed on top of it. It was more clumsy than she would've liked, but she did manage to pull herself onto the dumpster. She was definitely not sober enough for this shit. She slipped as she grabbed the bottom of the fire escape, her fingers just grasping the bottom wrung. Slowly, she pulled herself up. Pain bloomed through her head. Grimacing, she closed her eyes and staggered over to her shoes.
Dawn was starting to lighten up the night sky when Ruby reached the third floor. Her headache intensified, and she quickly stumbled to the nearest window. She was pretty sure this was the window to Meg's living room. Might've been the bathroom window, though. Didn't matter. Head hurt too much.
Ruby knocked on the glass. No answer. She was gonna give Meg shit for this later. She pressed her hands to the window and slowly worked it open.
Once it was open wide, Ruby crawled inside. She collapsed onto Meg's couch. She closed her eyes and fell asleep instantly.
What felt like mere seconds later, Ruby awoke to a sharp kick to her side. "What the shit, Meg?" Ruby groaned.
"Who's Meg? Better yet, who the hell are you, and how did you get in here?" Ruby opened her eyes to see a stern red head who was very much not Meg standing over her.
"Why are you in Meg's apartment?" Ruby asked, sitting up slowly.
"This is my apartment, not this Meg's person's. You're trespassing. Get out before I call the cops," the woman said.
Ruby raised her hands in surrender. "I'm sorry. I must've climbed in the wrong window. I'll go. Let me just get my shoes," she said.
Ruby got on her knees on the couch and stuck her head out the open window. It was very bright out. Several hours must've passed. She reached forward, just barely grabbing her heels.
"Did you climb up the fire escape? Who the hell are you?" the redhead asked.
Ruby slid back inside. "The name's Ruby. I'm a friend of your neighbor."
"Meg. Yeah, I gathered," the woman said.
Ruby got off the couch and headed for the door. "You got a name?" Ruby asked as she stepped into the hall.
Her unwilling host said, "Anna."
Ruby said, "Well, Anna, I'm sorry for accidentally-"
Anna shut the door before Ruby could finish.
"Accidentally breaking into your apartment," Ruby muttered to no one in particular. She walked down the hall. She'd been off by one window. Of course.
Ruby knocked on Meg's door loudly.
Meg opened the door and looked at Ruby. "You're here early," she said.
Ruby moved past Meg into her apartment. "What time is it?" she asked.
Meg said, "A little after 6."
Ruby groaned and plopped down on Meg's couch, dropping her shoes on the floor.
"Long night?" Meg asked.
Ruby chuckled and asked, "Did you know your next door neighbor has her couch under her window, too?"
"Wait, what?" Meg asked.
Ruby said, "Snuck into your apartment a few hours ago. Turns out, it wasn't your apartment. That's the kind of night I had."
"Jesus, Ruby," Meg said, shaking her head, "I'll let Sam know you're here."
Ruby thanked her, and to get through the blinding pounding still behind her eyes, promptly went back to sleep.